Upright and inverted microscope

Abstract

A dual-configuration microscope is provided. The microscope may be converted into an upright configuration or an inverted configuration. The microscope includes a base having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion configured to support the microscope. The microscope further includes a body having a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second portions. The intermediate portion of the body is rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the base at a rotational coupling. The rotational coupling defines a rotating axis that extends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the microscope. The microscope further includes an objective disposed proximal to the first portion and a light source disposed proximal to the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microscope comprising:
 a unitary base comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion configured to support the microscope; 
 a body comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second portions, wherein the body is rotatably coupled to the base at a rotational coupling, the rotational coupling defining a rotating axis; 
 one or more objectives coupled to the first portion; 
 a condenser coupled to the second portion; 
 wherein the one or more objectives and condenser are positioned in an inverted configuration when the body is rotated around the rotating axis such that the one or more objectives is located below a light source; 
 wherein the one or more objectives and condenser are positioned in an upright configuration when the body is rotated around the rotating axis such that the one or more objectives is located above the light source; and 
 an optical arm disposed proximal to the first portion of the body, the optical arm arranged within an optical path of the one or more objectives, and wherein the optical arm is pivotably coupled to the first portion of the body and is configured to rotate about a pivoting axis that extends in a lateral direction with respect to the microscope. 
 
     
     
       2. The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the microscope faces substantially the same direction in the inverted configuration and in the upright configuration. 
     
     
       3. The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the microscope occupies substantially the same three-dimensional area in the inverted configuration and in the upright configuration. 
     
     
       4. The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational coupling comprises a shaft extending along the rotating axis from the upper portion of the base and a corresponding bore disposed within the intermediate portion of the body, the shaft and bore arranged to permit the body to rotate about the rotating axis. 
     
     
       5. The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a stage configured for attachment to the intermediate portion of the body, the stage positioned between the one or more objectives and the condenser. 
     
     
       6. The microscope of  claim 5 , wherein the stage extends generally perpendicularly from a mounting block configured to be secured in a pocket of the intermediate portion of the body, wherein the stage is mounted away from an axis of symmetry of the mounting block such that a specimen supporting surface of the stage maintains a distance from a surface of the condenser when the body is rotated from the upright configuration to the inverted configuration. 
     
     
       7. The microscope of  claim 5 , further comprising a quick-release mechanism configured to engage a chamfered surface of the mounting block to secure the mounting block to the body of the microscope. 
     
     
       8. The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a Dove prism positioned within the optical arm. 
     
     
       9. The microscope of  claim 8 , further comprising a collar positioned on the optical arm for manually rotating the Dove prism to correct for rotations of a visual representation of a specimen due to rotation of the optical arm. 
     
     
       10. The microscope of  claim 8 , further comprising a geared arrangement or mechanical motor for manually rotating the Dove prism to correct for rotations of a visual representation of a specimen due to rotation of the optical arm. 
     
     
       11. The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a cradle disposed at a distal portion of the optical arm, the cradle configured to receive an electronic device that is configured to acquire images, and align the electronic device within an optical path of the optical arm. 
     
     
       12. The microscope of  claim 11 , wherein the cradle is configured to receive and secure an electronic device comprising one of a mobile communications device, tablet computer, laptop computer, PDA, digital camera, portable gaming console, or portable computer. 
     
     
       13. The microscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and second focus knob disposed laterally on the body, wherein the first focus knob is disposed proximal to the first portion of the body and the second focus knob is disposed proximal to the second portion of the body; wherein the first and second focus knobs are configured to adjust a position of the one or more objectives along an optical axis defined by the one or more objectives. 
     
     
       14. The microscope of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the body comprises a surface having a convex profile that corresponds with a surface of the lower portion of the base having a concave profile. 
     
     
       15. A method for assembling a rotating microscope, the method comprising:
 mounting at least one objective and light source to a body of a microscope; 
 rotatably coupling the microscope body to a unitary microscope base, the microscope body configured to rotate about a rotating axis at a rotational coupling such that the at least one objective and light source are positioned in an inverted configuration when the body is rotated around the rotating axis such that the at least one objective is located below the light source and such that the at least one objective and light source are positioned in an upright configuration when the body is rotated around the rotating axis such that the at least one objective is located above the light source; and 
 pivotably coupling an optical arm to the body, wherein the optical arm is positioned proximal to the body and arranged within an optical path of the one or more objectives, and wherein the optical arm is pivotably coupled to the body and is configured to rotate about a pivoting axis that extends in a lateral direction with respect to the microscope. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising releasably mounting a stage to the body disposed between the at least one objective and the light source, wherein the stage is mounted away from an axis of symmetry of a mounting block such that a specimen supporting surface of the stage maintains a distance from the at least one objective when the body is rotated from the upright configuration to the inverted configuration. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a quick-release mechanism for removal of the stage from the body. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a Dove prism within the optical arm. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing means for rotating the Dove prism to correct for rotations of a visual representation of a specimen due to rotation of the optical arm. 
     
     
       20. A microscope system comprising:
 a body comprising at least one objective, stage, and condenser, the stage disposed between the at least one objective and condenser; 
 an optical arm arranged along an optical path of the at least one objective, the optical arm coupled to the body at a proximal portion of the optical arm, wherein the optical arm is arranged within the optical path of the at least one objective, and wherein the optical arm is pivotably coupled to the body and configured to rotate about a pivoting axis; and 
 a cradle disposed at a distal portion of the optical arm, the cradle configured to align an optical input of an electronic device within an optical path of the optical arm. 
 
     
     
       21. The microscope system of  claim 20 , wherein the cradle is sized to receive an electronic device comprising one of a mobile device, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, PDA, or portable computer. 
     
     
       22. The microscope system of  claim 20 , wherein the optical arm is pivotably coupled to the body. 
     
     
       23. The microscope system of  claim 22 , wherein the optical arm is configured to rotate about a pivoting axis that extends in a lateral direction with respect to the microscope. 
     
     
       24. The microscope system of  claim 23 , wherein the optical arm comprises a Dove prism configured to rotate about the pivoting axis. 
     
     
       25. The microscope system of  claim 20 , further comprising an application configured to run on the electronic device to receive user input for one or both of managing image data received from the optical arm of the microscope and controlling operations of the microscope. 
     
     
       26. The microscope system of  claim 20 , wherein the microscope comprises a rotating microscope configured to be converted from an upright configuration into an inverted configuration.